Vintage SH-101 + RD8: 4 wild jams

Valmont / Mooggy

"Old School Techno vibes :D"

1984 Akai AX-80: 17 more great sounds

video upload by Valmont

"I played for hours straight so I had to change my camera's battery 4 times and my SD card, then assembling and sorting all the cuts I realized it moved a bit, sorry for that!
One of the great thing with the AX80 is the stability: it doesn't move of a single cent, which is fundamentally important for live performances! (Also there are 64 presets it's nice). More than being stable, it's also really in tune thanks DCOs drivers. (too much in tune..?)
It's nice to know this synth has a double-mode crossmod section, an ADSR to DCO routing and an additional sub waveform. On 8 voices so it goes big! I especially like the crossmod. It's not as versatile as a Prophet 600, but it does have a sonic difference. The filters are a question of taste, I'm into the 2044 reference and those CEMs don't sound quite the same, they have a more aggressive resonance... They're just different (in a CEM way by definition :p)
And well that look, with astonishing neon LEDs behind opaque plexiglass, and this fantastic keyboard feel! Oyy we don't speak enough about it, but it's amazing, it's perfectly balanced and nice to play with.

As usual with mono sources, I preamped the AX-80 thru a Golden Age Premier PREQ-73, and since the Akai output level is super high it easily went on overdrive. The Akai doesn't drive by itself, it's on the contrary really clean!

0:00 - matt's jupiter
0:22 - bbd like
0:38 - edged era
0:54 - chillaxattitudzer
1:16 - nyx
1:40 - parallels
1:59 - pouet
2:16 - rotterdam
2:37 - shattered skies
2:54 - sparkling cubes
3:21 - trapezoid bridge
3:45 - staircase
4:18 - strewed semolina
4:45 - atmos
5:12 - grasping at straws
5:35 - cubicle
5:58 - cardboard box"

1975 Elka Rhapsody 610 quick demo

video by Valmont

"A simple string machine from the mid 70s, with the usual technologies of that time: a master top-octave oscillator, and frequency dividers making each key's pitch for the 61 sound generators boards.
The voices are then summed in a double chorus: one slow delay line, and one fast - both synchronized making regular phasing cycles.
Funny thing with these octave-dividers machines is that all the notes aren't perfectly "in tune". The first models had some key-pitch variations up to 10 cents from a traditionnal tempered keyboard! The rev.2 had a better pitch division, with pitch variation up to 2 cents, witch is pretty unnoticeable for common ears.

0:02 - Strings + Piano + Clavichord
0:14 - Violoncello + Strings
0:41 - Piano + Clavichord (with phaser)
1:08 - Violoncello + Strings (with phaser)"

Yamaha DX7-IID : unstable feedback

video upload by Valmont

"It's the association between the DX7-IID and the Ibanez UE-405 echo that creates this flanged tube-chime effect, which sometimes kicks in depending on the notes I played. The DX7 plays a simple sawtooth-like bass, nothing weird. An unstable combination, hard to catch though!

The kick is driven by a modified Altai Analog Echo System (the weird thing sitting on the DX7-IID)
The snare goes into a 1979 Roland SIP-301 & then is sent to a 1985 Alesis XTC Reverb. The hi-hats go in the SIP too but not through the XTC loop.

More explanations :
The UE-405 is running its BBD echo at minimum rate, and feedback is just under the saturation threshold. Depending on the notes played by the DX7, the level sometimes goes above the threshold, creating that flanged highly saturated delay. Yet the BBD driver has a compressor/expander, so when I play longer-sustained notes the feedback loop calms down and the saturation decreases. Subtle sh!t very specific to analog delays :) The Altai is just a cheap echo box, the BBD isn't particularly interesting but the preamp section has a nice transistor stage that clips in an asymetrical way. Banger on kicks.

Oh and that white thing hanging on the racks is my Ibanez UE400/405 controller!"

Siel CTS-2000 quick demo

Valmont / Mooggy

"Minute of CTS-2000, a very rare hybrid italian synth from the mid eighties :D
Thinking about making a VST of this synth, but there are so many wavetables... The work ahead's gonna be long and boring!
Other demo I did with it:" [posted here]

Free Synsonics Drums Emulation (Digital Systemic)

Valmont / Mooggy

"Yay I'm back with a new freeware! :D
The Synsonics was launched by Mattel in 1981 as a really low cost alternative to Simmons or MPC Electronics (Before Akai bought them in 84')
It provides 5 sounds: 2 toms, a snare, a cymbal (Close/Open) and a metronome click.
Legends say Kraftwerk used one, but no one knows how, or on which album!
But anyway, loads of musicians used it as a real instrument despite the fact Mattel was often associated with kids toys.
On the actual machine, none of the sounds are editable and the background noise is so important the Synsonics is hard to record.
That's why I decided to develop this small program :D
The free version contains 2 toms, the snare and the cymbals but not the metronome click.
All the sounds are still editable and automatable.

Get it here for free as usual: https://sites.google.com/site/digital..."

Juno 60 & SH-101 with bits of Linndrum / Quick Jam

Valmont / Mooggy

Used:
Roland Juno-60, Roland SH-101
78' Electro Harmonix Small Stone, Electro Harmonix Clone Theory Stereo
Mode Machines MM-5, Boss RV-6
Linndrum LM1 and LM2 on VPROM.

Prophet 600: 19 homemade sounds (With Strymon Big Sky)

Valmont / Mooggy

"19 sounds on my Sequential Prophet 600, thru a Strymon Big Sky reverb.
This 600 has no GliGli installed, so EG are slower (As well as panel controls)

0:00 - Very 600 Strings
0:18 - PolyMod Filter
0:46 - Synclavier spirit
0:56 - CS80 spirit
1:33 - PW Synth
1:50 - Fat Brazz
2:02 - Unison 1
2:22 - PolyMod Osc B
2:36 - Future Bass
2:55 - Unison 2
3:12 - More Sawtooth
3:23 - Minimoog spirit
3:53 - Portamento Pad
4:08 - House Chords Mode
4:32 - Thru some presets
4:42 - Saw Chords
5:21 - Yellow Notes
5:45 - Chillax Strings
6:05 - Unison 3"

And a video on the tuning when powering up:

When the Prophet 600 heats up


"Quick video to show how sounds a Prophet 600 when it's heating.
Mine doesn't have the Gligli mod so it goes out of tune easily.
Needs about 30 minutes for being 100% in tune!"

Sequential Prophet 600 : Ryuichi Sakamoto - Opus

video upload by Valmont

"A blissful theme by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Covered (in another tonality with shortened parts) on a modified 1982 Sequential Circuits Prophet 600."

1978 EHX Small Stone Phaser: spectrum visualization

Valmont / Mooggy

"Roland SH-101 pulse wave going straight into the Electro Harmonix Small Stone mk2, then analysing back the sound (With DustAnalyzer)"

EMI Ritm-2: the most badass, single VCO synth ever made

video by Valmont

"Yall be hyped for SH101, Teisco 60f, Micromoog... Taste the Ritm-2, you won't come back ;)

0:00​ - I hope you have good subwoofers
0:56​ - VCF harmonies
1:22​ - LFO frogs
1:37​ - Analog mess
2:11​ - VCF Auto-oscillation
2:19​ - Arp bass
2:37​ - Big oOf bass"

1983 Siel Opera 6: 10 patches demo

Valmont / Mooggy

SSM2031 VCO, SSM2044 VCF, SSM2056 EG, SSM2024 VCA... Full SSM Synth!
Very noice analog polysynth from the early 80s :P
Same spirit as Prophet 600, Jupiter 6, Crumar Bit, Juno 60, Korg Poly 61...

0:00 - Smooth Strings
0:16 - Variable Attack PW
0:29 - Sickkk bAss
0:35 - Fast Brass
0:49 - FAAAT BRAZZ
1:06 - Filter experiment
1:19 - Overheating or something
1:25 - Cute polysynth
1:38 - Classix Organ
1:54 - Classix Brass
2:12 - Chords Synth

Smooth 80's Brass design on Siel Opera 6


This synth fr it's awesome :P
0:05 - Lush Brass
A soft chill warm brass, Prophet 5 like.
1:05 - Fonky Brazz
A punchy analog almost juicy fonk brass sound

E.M.I Ritm-2, analog soviet pizzazz

video by Valmont

"Facts I translated from an obscure russian forum:
- Development started in 1983
- Were made by hand from 1985 to 1992 in the Soviet Union
- 6767 units were built, estimated about 200 to 500 still working tho.
- The factory employed 15 workers: not enough people for a quality build. PCBs were cut and drilled by piles together by hand, the keyboard in an unspeakable handiwork thing...
- SN number starts at 2248 and ends at 9015, so mine is number 91!
- Black models are from the 80's, yellow/white plate ones are usually from the 90s
- Moog-type Ladder Filter (Micromoog or Prodigy?), Moog-inspired envelopes as well

Was just serviced"

Crumar Bit One: 15 great sounds (Rare SSM rev.)

video upload by Valmont

"Long time ago I recorded a video of this Crumar, but the sound was mono with phasing issues, and so didn't give honor to Bit One's sonic character.
This time I recorded it with the voicepan x)
This unit is a SSM-2044 version, it said less than 300 (or 200?) were made before switching to the less sought-after CEM-3328. With the incredible number of broken Bit Ones you can find online, I don't think there's much SSM versions left :D
The Bit is also capable of split/layer/two-unison, I forgot to make some patch for that when recording the video!

I made a Crumar Bit One/01/99 t-shirt here (idk I thought it looked cool) https://sites.google.com/site/digital...

0:00 - caramel
0:18 - italie 13
0:42 - july
1:01 - imagination
1:16 - aspects
1:35 - spread
1:56 - venus
2:22 - aristide
2:55 - scent
3:15 - pacific fish
3:36 - butternut
4:07 - boreal toad
4:24 - montmartre
4:56 - neons
5:20 - oranges"

Elka EK-44 Demo

video upload by Valmont

"Fun fact this unit was the one used by UVI for their soundbank 'uvi synthox' x)
1986 italian FM synthesizer, 4 operators, 8 algorithms, 18 voices, 8-parts multitimbral.
It also has 2 individual mono 3009 BBD lines (wish they had just made one, but stereo)
The EK44 - call it EM44 or ER44 as well - is based on the Yamaha YM2203, which sounds cleaner than classic DX chips... too nice for my taste, I sold it a year ago!
It's more straightforward than most FM synthesizers: sounds are rather thought as stacks of simple patches rather than single complicated evoluting sounds. Also the approach is orthogonal to DX series if I can say! You program a single parameter, for all the operators one by one on the same page. DX would give you multiple parameters for a single operator, and yet you would have to change parameter and operator by a single button. The EK44 show you the 8 (2x4) operators values, at the same time by little graphs on the screen, it's really cool. What's less cool is that they don't display algorithms anywhere. How am I supposed to guess them?? (you might have to look at the german pdf online)

Worth noticing the keyboard feeling is a step ahead from other synthesizers of that era, not as good as the solid straight Kawai K3 or AX80, but really flexible, bouncy, pleasant and kinda unique.
Additional comment: it's defo not a 1500€ synth as you might see on reverb lmao

0:00 FM Realm
0:13 3009 Strings
0:33 Golden Hour
0:49 Zappa's Apostrophe
0:58 Abas 1
1:04 Abas 2
1:08 Stackbas
1:14 Polyphonic Memory
1:34 Musical Greenhouse
1:45 Stratus
1:56 Pasiphaë
2:16 The Contract
2:28 Broken Lullaby
2:40 Simmons' Spring"

Crumar Bit 100! (Bit One + Bit 99)

video upload by Valmont

"Some chill stuff :)

SSM2044 (Bit One) vs CEM3328 (Bit 99) comparison at 1:51.
They sound pretty much the same tbh, minus the resonance drop for Bit One (design flaw of 2044s). But the boards inside do look different, we really can feel how Crumar engineers found about some possible reliability issues. My Bit One [a very early model] looks like a still-on-development instrument, with factory handmade modifications. That's why I tend to say the Bit 99 is safer, like better finished synthesizer. It also has few practical improvements that are useful for live sets, such as volume, noise and detune recall (which is not possible on Bit One), and a better keyboard feeling thanks stronger keysprings. Fun thing though, it's the same keyboard as in the Siel Opera 6 and E-Mu Emax!

So, Bit One or Bit 99? Honestly, whatever the model, you'll get the same thing. Bit99s are maybe a bit better designed, but both share all the same fragile components that usually die with time x)

0:00 - Stack 1 (with use of velocity to LFO speed!)
0:42 - Stack 2 (4 DCOs on different pitchs)
1:00 - Stack 3 (classic poly sound)
1:51 - VCF Tests

Crumar Bit 99 kindly lent by Loic from Les Amants, https://www.instagram.com/lesamantsmusic/"

Analog Chimera : ½ ARP + ½ Moog (MachineRoom Trilobite)

video upload by Valmont

"Unconcise demo of a Trilobite triple VCO (Moog 204D) processed by an og ARP Axxe mkII (in mkI cabinet), with that often neglected 4075 VCF... which does sound exceptionally well?! This ARP is considered for sale though :) For the FM patches I plugged one of the VCOs output into the FM in of one other. And the retrig mode it's the Arp Repeat switch enabled!

0:00 - raw audio ahead
0:12 - solid PW 1
0:23 - solid PW 2
0:34 - soft 1
0:46 - soft 2
0:57 - arp PW
1:16 - soft 3
1:30 - arp triangles
1:41 - arp sawtooths
1:57 - arp FM 1
2:13 - arp FM 2
2:29 - arp FM 3
2:50 - HFO FM
3:23 - overdriven VCF

Sorry for the weird video edit with those scopes surrounding the Arp, I had a terrible mess around which I didn't consider until I finished the video... Too late ha, I only found that way to hide it x))"

via MachineRoom

"TRILOBITE is a triple saw-core oscillator analogue module inspired by the original Moog schematics and made with thru-hole components only

The module features:

– 4 octave ranges

– 3 waveforms (triangle, square, saw),

– UNISON (FINE) control with a range of +/- 12 semi-tones

– Independent LIN FM and PWM inputs with attenuators

– White noise source

Independent audio output is provided for each oscillator. A mixed output is also present featuring a level control.

We are recommend to use independent audio outputs to avoid distortion, in this case MiX output works as WHITE NOISE source with attenuator.

V/oct input of the first oscillator is normalled to all 3 oscillators, so OSC2 and OSC3 would track it too, however, connecting other signals to the other V/oct inputs make each input independent.

CLICK FOR MORE »

A song with the 1982 Sequential Prophet 600

Published on May 28, 2020 Valmont / Mooggy

"If Erik Satie could hear this I'm pretty sure he'd be upset 🤓
A small demo of my Sequential Circuits Prophet 600, a 100% CEM-chips synth (CEM3340 VCO, CEM3372 VCF, CEM3360 VCA)

Processed with:
Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 8, XLN RC-20, IK TR5 EQual, U-He Presswerk, T.C Electronic TC8210-DT, Arturia 1973-Pre, XLN DS-10, TAL Dub-X, Izotope Mastering Essentials, JST BG-Mix, Eventide Blackhole, BeatRig SideKick 6, Alex Hilton Stereo Control A1, Alyjames VPROM running Linndrum LM-1/LM-2 roms.

Original composition: Erik Satie - Gnossienne n°3 (1893)
Played by ear so it's half wrong but still sounds great :P"

Лель УДС (LEL' UDS) with a Welson Supermatic S12

video upload by Valmont

"- The LEL' UDS is a soviet drum synth, made in the late 80's.
It has 2 identical, independant channels that include a tone (triangle) and a noise generator.
- The Welson Supermatic S12 is an italian drum machine made in 1971.
It provides 12 classic patterns with no available edits, except global volume and tempo.
There's still a little knob at the back that acts like a 6dB LP filter ('tone' thing)

So in a few words, two simple instruments that make simple sounds... Chained together!
I was digging inside the LEL' (A bit of servicing) but got lazy to close the lid to shoot the video. So there it is, wide opened for your eyes :D
I think I'll add a second output for this unit.
Just requires to build a second amplifier and split the channels - not thaaat complicated stuff so... why not give a try x)

Patterns:
0:00 - Shake
0:28 - Tango
0:46 - Mambo 1
0:59 - Mambo 2
1:09 - Slow Rock
1:20 - Samba 1
1:32 - Snare Roll
1:43 - Samba 2"

Voice Panning mod on Prophet 600: demo

video by Valmont

"Really happy to have a true-stereo Prophet 600 now :p

It can go subtly stereo (Like a roomy presence) to some wide spread. A huge plus for mixing the modern way. https://www.musikding.de/Prophet-600-...​

The original mono output level was pretty low, but the new one with the stereo mod is much higher. I didn't even use a preamp!

The Prophet output is actually a stereo plug connector, with two contacts duplicated. So I didn't even have to drill another hole, I just reused the original output :) Tho to keep the mono mix out, my synth tech disconnected the filter-cv input, and made it a secondary out. A great tip to have a stereo Prophet for studio use, and a mono Prophet on the stage, without having to change all the trimmers!

0:13​ - Polymod synth
0:50​ - Arpeggio
1:25​ - Pad
1:48​ - Lil Brazz"